Surname Limerick - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Limerick: What does the surname Limerick mean?
The last name Limerick is an Irish surname that comes from the city of Limerick in County Limerick in Ireland. The city was named on the River Loim which was likely named after a Norse Viking or Gaelic chieftain named Líomargat.
The surname Limerick generally refers to someone who hails from or was born near Limerick city, referring to this person as a Limerick native. This meaning has been consistent since the fourteenth century, where the name began to become synonymous with the city itself.
The Limerick name is also associated with the history of County Limerick. It was an important stronghold in pre-Roman times, and later became the seat of the Earl of Desmond. During the sixteenth century Limerick experienced a period of prosperity as a result of careful civic planning. This period saw the construction of the city walls by the Earl as well as improved trade relations with Europe.
The Limerick name continues to be strongly associated with the city of Limerick and County Limerick. It is an enduring name that recalls the city’s rich history and heritage with ties to the Vikings, Gaelic clans, and the Earls of Desmond.
Order DNA origin analysisLimerick: Where does the name Limerick come from?
The last name Limerick is most commonly found in present day Ireland. Limerick as a last name derives from the famous Irish county of Limerick, which is located in the midwest of Ireland along the River Shannon. Limerick is the third largest county in the Republic of Ireland and is the major regional hub for the Munster region. It is bounded by Galway and Clare to the north, Tipperary to the east and Kerry to the south.
Today, Limerick is a highly populated area, with roughly half of the population in the county itself. People named Limerick who live in the area or are from the area are likely to have strong ties to the area, such as being descendants of the earliest settlers or maintaining a family farm or business in the area for generations.
As with many surnames, there are several possible origins for the Limerick surname. It may come from the Irish Ó Luimneach (augmented form O'Limerig) which can be translated as "descendant of Limerick", with Limerick being a place name in Ireland. An alternate explanation may be that the surname may have evolved from Lomngeach which is a form of the word meaning "warrior".
The last name Limerick is also found outside Ireland, especially in countries with large Irish-immigrant populations. In the United States, Limerick is the 630th most common last name based on the 2018 census, and is held by 0.02% of the population. In England, the name Limerick is ranked 678th, and in Canada it is the 822nd most common as of 2020.
Variations of the surname Limerick
The surname Limerick can originate from several different sources. Different spellings of the surname Limerick can include Limbric, Limbricks, Limbricke, Limricke, Lemrick, Limric etc.
The surname can possibly derive from the place-names Limerick in Ireland and Limerick in Scotland. Limerick, in Ireland, is a city and county located on the banks of the river Shannon. The surname was first recorded in 1444 when Thomas de Limeric was noted in County Limerick, Ireland.
The surname could also have a Norman origin, deriving from the town of Lymer in France. It is suggested that members of this family settled in England and Ireland following the Norman invasion of 1066.
The spelling variants of Limerick may also originate from other language origins. Limaverit is a Norman variant which may originate from the French phrase ‘le marechai’ which means ‘the marshal’. Limberger and Limburg are Germanic spellings and Limter is possibly a Swiss variant.
Some of the surnames with the same origin as Limerick include Lemmer, Lembke, Leemker, Limbek, Lembke, Lammer, Leembers, Limmer and Linde.
The spelling of surnames can vary depending on how people write them or how the name was pronounced or interpreted by officials in different countries or eras. So it’s not always easy to determine the exact origins of a surname with any degree of certainty. Nevertheless, Limerick is a unique surname and has many spelling variants that have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Limerick
- Jasmine Limerick, Indian Actress
- Josiah Limerick, American Model
- Stephon Limerick, American Singer
- Sarah Limerick, Irish Instagram Star
- Claudia Limerick, English Footballer
- Hux Limerick, American Jazz Pianist
- Tamai Limerick, Australian YouTuber
- Tyce Limerick, American Baseball Player
- Napea Limerick, American Social Media Star
- Mina Limerick, Dominican YouTuber
- Decent Limerick, Jamaican Dancer
- Chevy Limerick, American TV Actor
- Jayna Limerick, American TikTok Star
- Talen Limerick, American Instagram Star
- Kolten Limerick, Canadian Soccer Player
- Satoru Limerick, Japanese Musician
- Petal Limerick, English YouTube Star
- Jocelyn Limerick, Australian Instagram Star
- Mona Limerick, Australian Pop Singer
- Professa Limerick, American Rap Artist
- Patricio Limerick, Mexican Musician
- Lorin Limerick, Taiwanese Actor
- Urbano Limerick, Mexican Film Director
- Ami Limerick, Japanese Wrestler
- Kristina Limerick, American Improv Comedian